Mac OS X Dashboard

Training Provided by The Virtual Training Company Dashboard provides instant access to widgets (mini-applications) that "float" over the desktop. These widgets provide simple functionality such as a calculator or clock; interaction with data from iTunes, the Address Book or other local apps; and interaction across the Web to get weather reports, stock quotes, etc. This course provides an introduction to Dashboard and you will learn how to create your own widgets. VTC author Jesse Feiler guides you through the steps to build a time clock widget to track your time and export it to a TextEdit document. To begin learning simply click the links.

Mac OS X Dashboard

Introducing Dashboard

1. About this Course
2. Dashboard Widgets as Mini-Apps
3. Dashboard Widgets as Data Interfaces
4. Widget Interface Design Guidelines

Widget Overview

1. Accessory Widgets
2. Application Widgets
3. Information/Internet Widgets Pt.1
4. Information/Internet Widgets Pt.2
5. Finding Third-Party Widgets
6. Downloading a Widget

Managing Widgets

1. Getting to Dashboard
2. Using the Widget Bar
3. Multiple Copies of Widgets
4. Using the Clipboard with Widgets

Widget Architecture: The Basics

1. Bundles
2. Basic Bundle Files
3. HTML interface
4. Default & Icon PNG Files
5. Property List

Industry-Standard Widget Technologies

1. HTML
2. CSS
3. JavaScript

Building a Widget (Basic Version)

1. Start from the Blank Widget
2. Rename Files & Build the Property List
3. Basic Safari Debugging
4. Add Images & Styles
5. Dashboard Development Mode Pt.1
6. Dashboard Development Mode Pt.2

Building the Back of a Widget

1. Flipping the Widget Pt.1
2. Flipping the Widget Pt.2
3. Adding a Link to the Widget
4. About Preferences
5. Setting & Storing a Preference Pt.1
6. Debugging Case Study
7. Setting & Storing a Preference Pt.2
8. Retrieving a Preference

Building a Widget (Advanced)

1. Implementing a Two-State Button Pt.1
2. Implementing a Two-State Button Pt.2
3. Creating a Text Display Field
4. Creating a Text Area
5. Finishing Up: The Reset Button

Widget Architecture

1. Dashboard Architecture
2. Widget Properties
3. Widget Events

Writing the Widget Javascript Code

1. Building the Javascript Timer
2. Building the Timer Click Structure
3. Starting the Timer
4. Pausing the Timer
5. Continuing the Timer
6. Resetting the Timer
7. Handling Show & Hide Events Pt.1
8. Handling Show & Hide Events Pt.2

Interacting with Other Applications

1. Using the Clipboard & Drag & Drop
2. Preparing the Test Widget Pt.1
3. Preparing the Test Widget Pt.2
4. Using the Command Line
5. Making the Command Line Interactive
6. Status Results & Synchronous Processing
7. Asynchronous Processing

Using AppleScript from Widgets

1. AppleScript/Widget Overview
2. Using AppleScript from the Command Line
3. Generating AppleScript from a Widget Pt.1
4. Generating AppleScript from a Widget Pt.2
5. Generating AppleScript from a Widget Pt.3
6. Creating AppleScript Scripts
7. Looking at an AppleScript Dictionary Pt.1
8. Looking at an AppleScript Dictionary Pt.2
9. Writing the Basic Script for the Widget
10. Implementing the Script in the Widget Pt.1
11. Implementing the Script in the Widget Pt.2
12. Cleaning Up the Widget Script
13. Labelling & Formatting the Export
14. Saving the Exported Document
15. Completing the Widget

Using XML Data on the Web from Widgets

1. Getting the XML Data for a Widget
2. Sample RSS Widget Architecture
3. Looking at the XML Document
4. Creating the XMLHttpRequest
5. Parsing the XML Data
6. Displaying the XML Data

Using Cocoa Plug-ins

1. Widget Plug-in Overview
2. Building the Fortune Example
3. Setting the Widget to Use a Plug-in
4. Setting the Xcode Project Name
5. Exposing the Plug-in to JavaScript
6. Debugging the Plug-in

Widget Appearance & Behavior

1. Using Control Regions
2. Using the Canvas
3. Resizing a Widget (Live Version)
4. Using Animation Pt.1
5. Using Animation Pt.2
6. Using Animation Pt.3
7. Managing Widget Focus

Using the Apple Classes

1. How to Include the Apple Classes
2. Apple Info Buttons
3. Apple Buttons (Including Glass Buttons)
4. Scrollling in Your Widget
5. Using Sliders

Distributing Your Widget

1. Preparing the Files
2. Downloading the Widget
3. Implementing Localization

Wrap Up

1. Course Summary

Credits

1. About the Author

About The Training Provider: The Virtual Training Company

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